Description: The Piaggio Aerospace P.1HH HammerHear is a multi-role patrol unmanned aircraft derived from the P.180 Avanti II manned airplane to provide Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The P.1HH system consists of an unmanned aircraft, ground control station (GCS) and navigation equipment. The HammerHead has been designed to remain airborne for 16 hours and features automatic take off and landing (ATOL). SELEX ES supplies the skyISTAR mission management system which manages sensors, video and data, communications and ISR functions to tackle from terrorist attacks to illegal immigration. The standard equipment includes the StarSafire 380HD FLIR EO/IR payload and the SeaSpray 7300E radar. Adding new payloads the aircraft will be able to perform Communications Intelligence (COMINT), Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) missions.

Powered by two PT6A-66B engines, each developing 850-shp of power, the HammerHead can reach a top speed of 395 ktas and a maximum altitude of 45,000-ft carrying a 500-pound payload. Its key aerodynamic design elements are: Three-Lifting-Surface Configuration (3LSC) which permits 34 percent reduction in wing area thus lower weight and drag; and a non-cylindrical low-drag fuselage. A built-in Ku/Ka radio-frequency datalink allows for operations line-of-sight (LOS) and beyond the line-of-sight (BLOS) operations using satellite communications.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) ordered eight HammerHead multi-role patrol aircraft from Piaggio Aero under a $346 million deal in March 2016. The first prototype crashed in May 2016 but the test flights were resumed in July 2017 with the aim of delivering the first operational HammerHead to the UAE before the end of 2018. Italy has also expressed interest on purchasing the P.1HH HammerHead medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aircraft system.